FOOTBALL

Hunterdon Central's Jack Kovi voted the Courier News/Mid-State 37 Football Player of the Week

Andy Mendlowitz
@andy_mendlowitz

Flipping field position sounds like a show on HGTV.

And it might work in, say, rural Ireland. But in football terms, it’s getting out of trouble and seizing momentum. That’s the situation Hunterdon Central faced in the third quarter Friday against Montgomery.

The Red Devils got pinned on their 2-yard line, as Montgomery was trying to rally. Enter their rhino package, ie. pure smash-mouth, man vs. man football, just pounding the ball on the ground.

 Hunterdon Central coach Casey Ransone said it was the team’s most important drive of the season.

“Montgomery had gained a little bit of momentum, and we needed to change field position,” Ransone said. “We didn’t score on the possession, but when I say it was the most important we were able to drive the ball right out to the 50-yard line. We ended up punting it away and completely flip field position. That was a rhino package drive, and that was giving the ball to Number 45 the entire time.”

Number 45 is Jack Kovi. Friday, the senior ate clock when needed, scored two short rushing touchdowns, and at linebacker added three sacks and an interception in his team’s 36-23 win. The Red Devils (1-2), ranked No. 5 in the Courier News Top 10, needed the victory after losing to powers Bridgewater-Raritan and Phillipsburg to open the season.

For his efforts, Kovi was voted the Courier News/Mid-State 37 Football Player of the Week in an online poll open to the public featuring five players. The voting got tight as the lead switched between Kovi and Manville’s Steven Garcia, who scored three touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Dayton.

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In the end, Kovi got 17,216 votes (47.04%) and Garcia fell just short with 15,027 votes (41.06%) of the 36,600 cast.

“I want to thank all the people that voted for me, like my family and all my friends,” Kovi said. “And just the coaches for letting me go two ways and giving me a chance.”

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Kovi played varsity linebacker last season, but didn’t see action in the backfield. Now, he gets time at fullback and tailback in short yardage situations. He didn’t gain weight, but said he’s much stronger after hitting the gym. The experience and new strength equals what looks like a breakout season for Kovi.

“I definitely feel like I’m more confident on the field,” said Kovi, who noted linebacker is a more natural position for him than running back. “I know what I’m supposed to do and what my role is.”

And that role extends to his leadership away from the action. Ransone said, “He does a little bit of everything. He’s really a jack of all trades.”

 Ransone, who was the head coach at St. Joseph in Metuchen, took over for longtime Hunterdon Central coach Matt Perotti in April after he stepped down.

“He’s really done a good job of helping set the foundation here of what’s expected,” he said. “When a new coach comes in to have a guy like a Jack Kovi to rely on as a player is a comforting thing. … I think he’s a natural leader that kids follow. He just gets things done and he does things the right way.”

In addition to their football prowess, Ransone evaluates how players carry themselves. He discovered that Kovi has an “unconditional work ethic” and “unconditional character” and takes “extreme ownership in everything that he does.”

“He’s done a good job of impressing me more so as a person,” Ransone said. “Obviously as a football player, but even more so as a person. He’s the kind of kid that you want in your locker room. He’s the kind of kid that you want in your classroom. And you know he’s going to be doing the right things outside of the facility.”

Oh, and his gridiron skills aren’t bad either.  

“He’s athletic,” Ransone said. “He’s tough. He does a great job of recognizing formation and does a good job of reading his keys and tackles well.”

READ: Football standings: Mid-State 37, through Week 3

Kovi has no problems lowering his shoulder, both on offense and defense. He said his strong points are his “physicality and my will to get to the ball. Like all I want to do is just get the running back down or get to the quarterback and hopefully make a big play.”

Kovi has Hunterdon Central football DNA as his grandfather Joseph played for the Red Devils. Now, he’s carrying on that tradition.

“I just like going out there and putting on a show for people and just doing my job,” said Kovi, who also plays lacrosse for the school. “And rallying together with my teammates and hopefully in the end coming out with a victory.”

Ransone only expects Kovi to keep getting better for Hunterdon Central, which hosts Franklin in an intriguing game Thursday.

“His experience as a varsity football player is really coming in big this year,” Ransone said. “He’s a smart, physical football player and he tackles well. You know what, if you do those things on a football field, you’re going to be OK.”